London 1950s and everyone has a secret
When Harriet Laws loses her grandmother and her job, her happy life in London seems over. Alone, grief-stricken and penniless, she thinks wildly of ending it all. Fate steps in as Tom Fletcher saves her, gives her hope, and guides her to new employment. He takes her to dinner, and she finds him attractive. He’s older, but she doesn’t mind. Does he? Tom, a quiet, hardworking man, is unsure of Harriet’s feelings, but he’s also very busy building his business interests. So it’s no wonder a suave, sophisticated fellow walks off with Harriet right under Tom’s nose. What follows, no one could have predicted, as Harriet not only loses contact with all her friends but must again fight for her very life…will she ever see Tom again?
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About L. B. Griffin
Gran’s retirement plans to trek around the world put on hold when TWRP offered the contract. Compulsive writer of fiction. Published at last! Happily married, surround by family and lives in Wiltshire UK .
Website: Blog: www.wifeinthewest.com
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What real life experience made it into your novel? That’s a great question. I’ve always written around the paid day job. We had a growing family and bills to pay. Plus, I never considered giving up paid work to write, simply because I never felt my work was good enough. I write about real, down to earth, honest, hardworking people. Though my characters are fiction, they have been developed over the years through teaching and working with so many amazing people. They gave me the wealth of life, ideas, experience and the desire and need to write. They had no idea, but those wonderful people taught me so much about life that I really didn’t know existed until I met them. They don’t see themselves as survivors, or courageous, but they sure are!
Did you have to cut any favorite scenes? Yes. The story started out at 180.000 words. Not quite War and Peace, but obviously way too long. I discovered much later that the original Secrets, Shame, and a Shoebox naturally fell into two books. I learned a lot having to re-write and develop the storyline in an entirely different way. Cutting out your ‘darlings’ can hurt but can also be empowering. Plus, its often suggested to keep the cuts and maybe they will come in somewhere else. For those who love Harriet, look out for her, I promise she will be making a comeback.
Do you Google yourself? When Google first I hadn’t a clue what they were talking about. Of course, I just had to look. To have my name on a world wide web? Amazing. The only other time was when my husband did some research when my book was about to be released – he couldn’t wait to show me. It all still feels very surreal.
Does your family support your career as a writer? My whole family have been absolutely amazing. The trouble is when I read this now, I feel so very needy. But I am so very grateful for all their help. My IT skills are next to zero, but my family have been with me from the very start of this very exciting, fantastic journey. My daughter, Kelly. She has started her own gifting business, I Love Surprises, and balances that with her one year and 12 year old, yet she still finds time to help me with the IT side of things. I am so lucky. My son Sam is just the same. He has stepped in and helped me out with blogging – which was one of the conditions of the contract with The Wild Rose Press. Sam, like so many parents he is busy with his work life at ElevateOM along with managing a growing family, but he is always there to lend a hand. Even when I don’t ask! My husband, well what can I say. I am blessed and I know it. He is so encouraging and supportive, and steps in when I get frustrated with the computer. At times I just want to chuck it out the window, but when he comes along, I know I can breathe again.
Do you hide any secrets in your books that only a few people will find? Yes. I doubt that anyone will find them unless they know the real me. So yes, I’ve hidden a gem or two, really just for me to know, and others to discover if they care to.
Do you have a writing routine? Pinch me now. I can’t believe I’ve been fortunate enough to be published. I’ve been writing for years. Before I retired, I would get up at silly o’clock in the morning, write as much as I could, then fly out the door, toothbrush in hand and sometimes forgetting I still had my slippers on! At night, after the kids went to bed, and if there was an ounce of creativity or energy left, I might do a little more.
What is your next project? I’ve sent the galley back to the Wild Rose Press – for my second novel, The Twenty-One-Year Contract! So excited. It should be released late spring 2022! I will be keeping everyone up to speed.
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